I was reading a fanfiction the other day when I read something Mai said in it. She had said something about not being blind…
So naturally, I laughed hard enough that a few people asked if I was okay, which of course made me laugh even harder than before…
Anyway… the next installment of Blind is in!
Before you ask, though, this is the Ghost Story in the Park case. The next is Silent Christmas, and THEN Yasu's school case.
As always, I don't own Ghost Hunt. I do own a sword.
BLIND
Weeks at SPR are pretty normal. I've been through that.
However, when you realize something, it can be very, VERY little to start out with.
"You know," Monk said as he, John, Ayako, Kasai, and myself sat on the couches in the reception area, "I never really realized it, but I suppose even Mai would have her secrets."
"Is that so? What about you, Monk?" Ayako asked.
It was Saturday, as you can guess. Kasai had just arrived to work with Lin on her PK stuff, but Lin wasn't in currently. So, she was out here with us until he arrived.
"Well, I'm in a band and my parents wanted to be a monk, but I left because of music. That's about all there is to it," Monk shrugged.
I sighed. "You're lying," I said.
I could totally tell by the habits everyone had. I could tell if they were lying.
"You know, it's better this way," Kasai said with a smile. "If we knew everything, I don't think it'd be all that fun."
"True. A part of life is figuring out what to do with yourself…" I mumbled.
"So what other big secrets does Mai have, huh?" Ayako teased me.
"I'm blind. I will be handicapped for my life depending on others to help me do certain things… such as figure out the color of my shirt. I can't drive even if I wanted to," I deadpanned. "That's why you're all here, right?"
"True. We're here to help Mai if she needs someone to talk to, to know that we're all here for her," John said politely.
"Well, maybe for you, but I can't wait for Naru to find out myself," Ayako said.
"He isn't going to find out—Mai has to tell him," Monk said.
Oh right… I promised him I'd do that…
"But you never said WHEN, so HA!" I said, grinning like a Cheshire cat.
"Yeah, yeah. So everyone has some secretive, hidden past around here, I guess," Monk said flippantly.
It was more or less the end of that discussion, and it shouldn't have been anything big.
It WASN'T that big.
But it made me think.
John came from Australia. He was an exorcist at nineteen. How? Why? Why was he in Japan?
Ayako was a shrine maiden… but she hasn't had a successful exorcism yet. Was she hiding something?
Monk was lying earlier. What was he hesitant about?
Kasai… what lead her to try the spoon-bending? Why did she watch that show? Was she told to watch it? By whom? How many people betrayed her during the Kasai Panic? When did she figure out that I was blind?
How was Ms. Ubusuna doing now?
Heck, how were any of our ex-clients doing? I'd have to visit Ayumi some time…
Masako. How'd she get onto TV? Was it coincidence? How old was she? How does she feel about her fame?
And then… I thought about Naru and Lin.
Lin… he'd always been a mystery. I don't even know where to start with him…
But Naru? He had lots of stuff I could try to figure out.
And that guy in my dreams that sounds exactly like him…
Who was he? Are they the same person? Are they different? If so, why do they sound the same? Do they look alike?
Why was Naru wearing mourning clothes? And who was he wearing them for?
I just thought about it. It wouldn't go away. I'd try to think of anything else… but I always came back to Naru's mystery.
Why does he look in reflective surfaces when he's thinking or debating something with himself?
Why does he act so cold? Is it on purpose? Did something bad happen as a child?
Did something bad happen recently?
Honestly, I think it would be both.
Why was Naru the head of the company at only seventeen?
Why did he drink so much tea? And most of it English? He's damn lucky I know how to make it correctly.
Did he already graduate school?
If so, how long ago was that?
He didn't drop out, did he?
What was up with the spoon-bending he did, and when he broke the thing?
Why does he know so much about the paranormal?
Where is his family?
Does he have a family?
Why does he act so secretive? Why are his notes in English? Why does he not allow me to do a lot of secretary duties, like answer calls or go through the mail, but still pays me a heck of a lot more than I work for? Why?
Why this? Why that?
Why, why, why?
And amongst these questions, there were two that stood out.
Who was he?
And…
Why did I even care?
I think… I may like him. Possibly. I don't know. Naru is definitely my friend, but what does he think of me?
So I cared because I cared for people in general. Isn't that natural?
But I couldn't get him out because I liked him to some degree. I guess that made sense…
But it didn't answer my questions about him.
I looked at my notebook that I had filled with questions about my boss. I was at home, so I wouldn't be interrupted or have it looked at by prying eyes.
A gust of wind blew in the window, making the pages flip to where I had written the books that had seemingly meant something. You know, the one shelf of books that always came out in the same order? Yeah, those.
The order was the same, but what was the connection?
At least I had some chance of solving this one. Maybe. And it got my mind off of Naru.
Let's see…
Fontana- Evidence
Grattan-Guinness- UFO's as Psychic Phenomena
Grosse- Ghosts, Poltergeists, & other Phenomena
Guiley- Entinities in Dreams
Haraldsson- New survey of psychic experiences in Iceland
Harrison- Ectoplasm, trumpet, & spirit
Haynes- Levitation
Haynes- Inglis-rectocognitive dissonance
Price- Victorian Spiritualism
Millar- Esperimenter effect or fraud
A. Parker- Schmeidler, Gauld, West- then & now
Then, the odd one that got thrown at my head recently…
False memory by Greening
To put it simply, I did not understand Naru's bookshelf system very well. I think he's just too lazy to ACTUALLY put it in order. Or something. It could be color-coordinated into rainbows for all I knew…
Ah, I'd better get some sleep… I had school tomorrow.
BLIND
December
Day 1
Well, this is a first…
"Oh, so you think you have a case that Naru should investigate?" I asked Michiru.
"Yeah, it all happened earlier this week when I was on a date with Akura in the park," Michiru explained. *1 "We were just walking and all of a sudden drenched in water!"
"How weird…" I said.
"Maybe someone was playing a prank," Keiko commented in.
"They weren't… There wasn't anyone else around us…"
I decided to try and lighten the mood a bit. I walked around from where I stood in front of Michiru's desk and gave her a hug from where she was sitting. "Oh!" I giggled. "What were you two planning on doing with no one else around?"
Michiru didn't smile. Usually she laughs at these sort of things. Plus, after the initial worry of me getting stuck in a man-hole with Naru, she started teasing me for over a week about what WE were doing all alone…
"Sorry," I apologized quickly. "You're really freaked out about this…"
"Yeah," Michiru nodded quietly. "After this thing happened I've been way too freaked out to go back there… It really makes me sad, because that's the place where we started dating…"*2
"So, you have fond memories at this place. I think I could ask Naru about it…"
"Oh, could you really!?" Michiru popped up out of her seat.
"I can't promise anything… See, Naru only takes cases he wants to…" I laughed nervously.
You'd think that if it was something paranormal, which has fewer believers than non-believers, you'd take all the cases you can get so you can get paid.
Apparently, you'd be thinking wrong.
At least, in the case of Naru… in which case, you're probably thinking wrong anyway, because it's Naru the Narcissist, the one who is never wrong… Damn him and his brain sometimes….
Speaking of Naru, I now found myself explaining Michiru's case to Naru.
"So, that's pretty much it," I finished.
"She'll have better luck taking that case to the police," Naru responded, not even looking up from his file or book or… whatever it was.
How'd I know he'd say that?
"If there's nothing else, would you mind making some tea?" Translation-I want tea, and I pay you to make it.
Oh well, he was nice about it (he can be civil every once in a while). Actually, he's in a fairly good mood today… Or in a bad one. Naru's weird like that I suppose… Then again, I'm one to talk…
"Yes sir!" I said as I did a sharp turn from his desk towards the door.
It's been eight months since I started working here, and I'm still no closer to figuring out Naru.*3
"Here's your tea, Boss," I said cheerfully.
"Fine," was his only answer.
He never goes to school, never watches TV, or listens to music. All he does besides work is read books about psychics and ghosts and stuff. Well, that and those maps. He says he reads them to meditate, but he goes on road trips and always comes back in a more sour mood than when he left.*4
… I wonder if he even enjoys life…
"You can go now, Mai," Naru bit out. Oh, right, here I am spacing out in his office…
But…
I slammed his door on the way out (as I have a tendency to do).
For crying out loud! You could at least say 'Thank you' for once! I know it's my job to make tea but you should appreciate that I do so with great care, dammit! …Oh well, I guess it's okay. I know he's insensitive about everything but his work…
Then Lin passed by. Even he was used to the sound on Naru's door slamming close.
"Hey Lin," I called out softly.
"Yes?" he stopped and looked over his shoulder at me. Lin is shrouded in even more mystery than Naru. The only thing I know about him is his name and that he rarely speaks. "What is it?"
"I was just wondering if you'd like some tea."
"No thanks," he said curtly before going back into his office and closing his door quite hard, his way of signaling to the world that he was in his cave and to leave him alone while in said cave.
That's how it always is… In the months I've known with him, I don't think we've ever had an actual conversation… Ah, but I did speak with him twice today! The incident just now, and this morning we said… five words tops as a tried to not run into him as I carried a pile of books…
How impressive….
"Oh well, I guess he still doesn't like me," I sighed as I wrote down the last few sentences into my diary. It was quickly filling up… Mostly with cases and ranting about Naru and his manners-well, lack thereof.
The door opened out of nowhere to reveal Masako peeking into the room. "Good afternoon," she called out softly.
"Masako, long time no see! How are you?" I greeted her happily.
"Is Naru here?" she completely ignored my question. Well, good to see you to! Noticing my disgruntled face, she spoke again. "Sorry. I just decided to drop in because there's a case I came across that Naru may like."
"He's in his office, working…" When I said this, Masako gave me a look of 'Just go ask him'. I sighed. "…I'll see what I can do…"
With that, I more or less got over it and got Naru out of his lair and into the sitting area where Masako sat patiently. Although, getting him out wasn't exactly easy… it ended up involving me, a tea-deprived Naru, the threat of no tea, the return threat revolving around what the hell I even did while I was supposed to be working, and the not-so-accidental misplacement of at least three file-notebook-thingies.
Henceforth, Naru wasn't in the best of moods… though, I think it had to do more with Masako being here than me hiding his notebook-whatevers in the tea cabinet.
"So, what is it you wanted to talk about?" Naru asked.
"A friend from the TV station has specifically requested your help. Apparently there's been a strange phenomenon that's been interfering with the filming of a new show," Masako answered.
"There have been hundreds of cases documented about spirits appearing inside film studios." …. Naru apparently does not want to take this case.
"That's just it, they haven't shot anything in the studio. It's at the park," Masako answered. "Every time they shoot there, without fail, the actors are suddenly doused in water."
"That's what happened to my friend Michiru!" I said.
"So you've heard of it," Masako said. "Actually, a number of these types of incidents have been reported as of late, with a first report being filed nearly eight months ago." *5
"Sounds to me like kids having some fun," said Naru.
"That's exactly what I thought it at first, but if this is really just some sort of practical joke then there should be some evidence left behind," Masako explained. "Since the only evidence is the wet clothes of the victims, this case is a mystery."
"The culprit wouldn't have to be nearby."
"That's exactly what I told the directory yesterday. He begged me, talking about how the crew was starting to get worried by it. That's everything I know. So what do you think, Naru?"
"I would recommend that if they're concerned with their safety they should either change locations or halt their shootings altogether."
"The script calls for that specific park and shutting down production would cost thousands of dollars."
"That's none of my concern," Naru stated as he got up, apparently done with the conversation. I gave a light laugh under my breath. Go figure. He rejected the case from me, so he'd also reject the case from Masako too, wouldn't he?
"Wait," Masako called out as he started to walk away. "Look, I owe the director a favor so I'd really like to find a way to work this out somehow. You can understand that, right Naru?"
That… sounds like a… threat?
Hmph. Good luck. Everyone knows Naru only takes cases he wants. And he's making that face, the one that rejects cases and says-
"What park is it?" Naru interrupted my thoughts.
SAY WHAT?! I told him about this exact same case earlier and he shot me down, but he'll do it for Masako?! Dammit Masako, stop giggling!
BLIND
Day 2
I cooled down once I realized technically my case was still being investigated. And so it began.
"So this is the location?" Monk said doubtfully.
"This one seems a bit odd, don't cha think?" John said, his accent just as there as ever will be.
"I know. Spiritual phenomenon that attacks couples," Monk said.
"We have yet to determine if it's a spirit or not," Naru said with a tone (or twelve) of bitterness in his voice.
"I assume that's what we're about to investigate, right?" Monk laughed out.
"Where's Matsuzaki?" Masako asked me.
"Uh, I called her but I guess she must be running late," I said as I sensed around for the older woman in question.
"You know how she is," Monk stepped in. "She'll waltz in here and say something like, 'This is CLEARLY the work of an earth spirit!'" Monk mimicked a girl's voice in the last statement.
"Wow, Monk, that was perfect!" I said with a laugh.
Then, speak of the devil, Ayako walked up to our group and announced, "This is clearly the work of an earth spirit."
Wait a few seconds…
And Monk, John, and I were laughing.
"Care to fill me in on what's so funny?" Ayako said with irritation written all over her features.
Naru decided that now was a good time to actually get down to business. Actually, this time it was clear that he wasn't in the best of moods… At all. In any variant of the meaning of the words 'best of moods'.
"Now that we're all here," he bit out, "let's begin the investigation. This is a case about a phenomenon that only happens under specific circumstances, which means that you all have to-"
"Yeah, we know, get to the point already," Ayako interrupted. "We'll exorcise the spirit, right?"
"Huh?" Monk looked a little unnerved about this as he looked around the park. "I'm not about to do my ritual out here in front of all these families."
"For this case exorcisms will not be necessary," Masako assured him. Well, sort of.
"Then what exactly do you plan for us to do?" John asked, confused as the rest of us. Wait, if they aren't doing exorcisms, then what ARE we doing?
"The plan is to have you all act as live bait," Masako said.
"Bait?!" we all asked at once. Well, Naru and Masako obviously excluded, though Naru looked irritated… again.
"The term sounds worse than it really is, however it's the quickest way to draw out the spirit," Masako explained.
"I have a feeling this was your goal from the start, wasn't it Masako?" Ayako chided.
"Now we just have to divide ourselves into three bait couples," Masako said with a Cheshire smile hidden behind her kimono sleeve. This WAS her intention!
"Hey Mai," Monk whispered in my ear. "Here's your big chance to score a date with Naru."
He's right! I can totally ask him all my questions and he won't be able to just sashay off! I'd better…
"Okay!" I shouted, raising my hand. "I'm in!"
"Alright," Ayako walked over to Naru. "I think Naru and I should be the first team," she said as she linked arms with Naru. Naru… he just sorta stared at her.
AYAKO! YOU SUCK!
"I'm the only girl here who doesn't look out of place on Naru's arm," Ayako explained while Naru looked off somewhere else, totally disinterested in the whole thing. "What can you do," Ayako grabbed Naru's cheek and had him face her again. "I think we make a fantastic couple, don't you, Naru?"
Well, Ayako didn't QUITE get what she wanted…
"It's not fair," Ayako grumbled as she stood with John behind the park bench Monk and I sat down on. "What's so great about her?" she continued to complain as she stared across the way where Masako and Naru sat on another park bench. Though, Naru was totally ignoring her mostly and was instead reading.
"Does it make you resentful," I caught onto Masako's conversation via lip-reading, "that I forced this case on you?"
"Miss Hara, sensing anything?" Naru said as he closed his notebook-file-whatever it was. Seriously, what are those things?
As for his response, it was Naru-ese and meant, 'Yes, I do, now get on with the case so we can be done with it'. But wait… forced?
Masako looked around, and I guessed she was trying to sense the spirit or spirits in the park. "I am feeling a faint presence of some kind…" she responded.
Whatever. I was still upset. There went my chance of cornering Naru for at least a few minutes.
You're so lame Masako. This whole 'bait' thing is just a scam… I thought back to a few minutes ago with Ayako and Naru…
"..Don't you, Naru?"
"Bad idea," Masako butted in (quite literally) between Ayako and Naru. "Putting you and Naru together would look more like brother and sister than an actual couple. But I, however…."
"Whatever, Masako and Naru look so alike. Er, at least I think so…" I grumbled. Dammit, my blindness made my comeback weak!
"Are you still whining about that?" Monk looked at me, a little surprised at my continuous irritation.
"So. What." I bit out.
"Have you considered the possibility of Masako blackmailing him?" Ayako suggested, leaning in between Monk and me on the bench. "She must have some dirt on him; otherwise he would have chosen me."
"Geez, get over yourself," Monk and I said at the same time.
… This earned us both a good hit on the head via Ayako. Groaning, we both held our heads in pain. Man, Ayako can hit HARD.
"Not to change the subject, but were you as surprised as I am that Naru even accepted this case?" John chimed in.
"I found it a bit strange myself," Monk said to John.
"He refused when I told him about it but when Masako asked him he changed his mind," I grumbled.
"I knew it, she is blackmailing him," Ayako muttered.
Next thing we knew, Masako was in front of us. "Everyone," she said to get our attention, "if you don't take this more seriously we'll never be able to draw out the spirits."
"Should we be making out or something?" Monk said.
Yeah. No. Not in a million years.
"What about you, Masako," Ayako said. "This is your big chance so you might as well kiss him."
Both Masako and I were a bit shocked at her suggestion. "Even the thought of that is totally unprofessional!" Masako said, though it was obvious she was thinking of something.
Don't tell me she's actually going to kiss him! That would be my worst nightmare! Do you know how bad of a mood Naru would be in afterwards?!
"Anyway, we need to change some things to draw the spirit out," Masako regained her composure. "Split up into couples and act independently of each other."
And with that, she went back to where Naru was.
I sighed. Great. Now we were being scolded.
"If only Lin were here today, then I would have some actual motivation," said Ayako.
"Huh? So you like guys that quiet?" I asked her, turning around in my seat to face her.
"Just the hot ones," Ayako replied.
"No way! I never would have thought that he could help lure the spirits or something," I gushed. *6
"Of all the days to be sick, you lucky dog," Monk muttered.
Somehow, I get the feeling that Lin just sneezed at his desk…
We decided to play Rock-Paper-Scissors to choose couples. We ended up with me and Monk as one team and John and Ayako as the other. Though, Ayako wasn't quite happy to find out that the winner got me… Needless to say, John is probably having one heck of a time trying to get the Frisbee that Ayako had found somewhere along the way.
"Go John, get the Frisbee!" I could faintly hear in the distance. Naru and Masako had decided to walk around and ended up watching them, and I decided to spy a little on their conversation with some dandy lip-reading and my senses.
"Is there a certain place here where the phenomenon tends to occur?" Naru asked as they watched poor John try to get the Frisbee… Ayako had a good arm.
"The only thing of which I'm certain is the shooting location was inside this park," Masako answered.
"So if it only happens here then maybe it really is a site-bound spirit. Interesting," Naru said. Hm. He's at least not quite as irritated as before… But he's still in a right bad mood.
Geez, this is a bit harder than I thought. They're too far off…
Masako said something and ran off.
Then Naru chased after her…
I decided to focus back to where Monk and I were feeding the pigeons. It was easier that way.
"Ah, so guess what? My friend Keiko asked me to bring her a photo of a Naru… So I told her there may end up being a ghost in the photo too. And if there wasn't, I'd probably end up as one…" I said. *7
"… You'd probably take the scariest photo ever. Not that it'd affect you much. Do you even know how to work a camera?" Monk asked.
"Hey now…"
The pigeons were calm one moment, then they were off. I wonder what scared them…
"Well, uh, that was kinda weird," I commented as I straightened up from where I was crouching.
"Why is it so quiet now?" Monk asked.
He was right. Before, there were birds and people everywhere.
Now…. we were alone.
"No one's here," I said.
We were both on guard… looking (or sensing) around for anything out of the ordinary. My senses were hyper active again…
The bush behind us suddenly started to rustle. I gasped and held onto Monk as he turned to see what was causing the noise.
… Then a cat popped out. Wow. I feel like an idiot.
"It's okay, it was just a cat," Monk said.
"Oh, that's cool." I guess.
Then a tap of water went on my shoulder.
Rain…?
And then I was drenched.
I immediately let go of Monk, choosing instead to try and get some of the water off me.
"Ah, what was that?! That is NOT a water balloon; it's more like a bucket!"
"Aw man! Michiru never said it was COLD!"
"Miss Hara!" Naru had caught up to where Masako had caught up to us in our now soaked glory.
"It's here…" she said. "Right behind Mai. And it's a woman. She's young, looks to be in her mid-twenties…" she trailed off before collapsing on the ground.
"Miss Hara!" Naru said as the kneeled down next to her. Ayako and John must've heard the commotion and ran over. We all hovered over Masako from where she was on the ground.
"What happened?" Monk asked, concerned.
"I don't know, she just collapsed," Naru said hurridly.
Then Masako started to get up again. And she was… giggling…? Something's wrong.
"What the…?" Naru said as Masako straightened out and was now full-out laughing.
Something is really REALLY wrong.
"Serves you right!" Masako said in the most ridiculous voice I have ever heard come out of her mouth. And was she—was she glowing ever so faintly?!
What.
The.
Hell?!
"What's wrong with her? Did she hit her head when she fainted and turn into a crazy person?" I asked as we all just watched Masako laugh deliriously.
"She's become possessed," Naru explained.
Wait, really?
Ayako must've misinterpreted my look and said, "The spirit's taken over."
"Even I knew that much," I grumbled at her.
Masako suddenly stopped laughing and turned around. Naru peeked open an eye to see if she was still there…She spotted Naru…
And then she was all over him. "Oh! He's hot! I would have totally done anything to date such a good-looking guy like this when I was still alive!"
Why must every girl paw over Naru?! Ah, he's doing that 'Look somewhere else and ignore it and maybe it'll stop' thing of his again.
"Well, she's not one to mince words," Ayako commented with a smirk.
"It's hilarious to hear that coming out of Masako's mouth," Monk was trying very, very hard not to laugh at Naru's misfortune.
It's not funny at all! (Okay, maybe a little…) If she doesn't let him go this instant, there's going to be a big problem! And I'm not sure whether it'll be Naru or me causing it!
Wait, why do I care…?
"Now tell me truthfully, Spirit, are you the one who is responsible for raining water down on people who come to this park?" Naru asked, seeing as she wasn't going to let go soon and thus deciding to interrogate her instead.
"Yes that's me!" Masako unlatched herself and tugged her kimono sleeves with her mouth. "They can all just die of pneumonia for all I care!"
"But why would you want that?" Naru asked. True, it still didn't make sense yet…
"Because I hate them! I hate them coming here and flaunting their love in front of me! Why must they mock me when I hurt so much?!" Masako continued her little depressed episode.
"What is it that makes you hurt so much?" I asked with some concern about what her reaction might be.
"Do you really want to know!?" Masako sprang up out of practically nowhere and now latched onto my hands. "Oh thank you, I'll tell you every detail. It's the most heart-wrenching tear-jerking story of lost love you'll ever hear!"
And so she began to explain what happened.
"This very park is the place where I first set my eyes on him. I was walking home with groceries when some leeks fell out of my bag… He stopped me, and it was love at first sight! Fate brought us together that day," Masako had a dreamy quality to her voice.
"Over some leeks…?" I said incredulously.
"Come on! Sounds like the plot for some lame old black-and-white movie," Monk added in.
"We would often meet here at the park for the most romantic dates. Everyone around us would get so jealous over how close we had become…." Then Masako adopted the scariest look I have ever sensed on a person. "BUT THEN!" her voice was purely evil. "He… He…" Okay, and now she was about to cry… "I was walking home with groceries again. I saw him around the corner, and was about to say hello when I saw he had another woman on his arm! I remember thinking that it can't be, and I dropped my bag…."
"So that jerk was two-timing you?!" Monk shouted. "What a piece of garbage!"
"Yes it's true! I loved this park before I met him and now it only brings up bad memories!" Masako cried as she waved around back and forth dramatically.
"What's your reason behind using water?" Naru asked, obviously not nearly as entertained -or frightened- by her mood swings as the rest of us were and was seemingly getting tired of her story.
And so, she explained the rest.
"I confronted him then and there! He told me to get lost, and that I was bothering his lady friend… And then he poured his water bottle on my head!" Masako cried out.
"This guy must be the scum of the Earth!" I said to her.
"You can say that again," Masako gritted out. "I was so lonely and depressed over this guy… I decided to end it all right here, in these gorgeous gardens that once held only my most beautiful memories…"
"You mean suicide?" I asked softly.
"Yes. I do," Masako answered even more softly. "I tried multiple ways… Hanging myself, poison… but I failed every time, but once I gave up and started walking home, I got frightened by a cat going through a bush… I lost balance and fell on the curb. I'm not sure if I had snapped my neck when I fell or if I had too much brain trauma, but either way, that's when I died. It was almost eight months ago."
"Which is when the first occurrence happened," Naru completed.
"And now I'm stuck in this awful limbo…" Masako droned.
"So why don't you just like, go up to this guy and haunt him directly?" I asked.
"Now Mai, that wouldn't be a very good idea," commented John.
"It sounds to me like this creep needs to have a scare or two put in him," said Ayako, much to John's surprise.
"That's what I thought," Masako said, "and I did try that, but… I would stay by his bedside saying 'I curse you~' but he didn't notice, so I tried it while he was awake and on a date with that other woman…. I even clung to his shoulder and said it in his ear! 'I curse you, I curse you~! Hey, I curse you!' Ugh, but it never worked… Again I was a total failure."
"This guy seems pretty insensitive…" Monk said.
"I couldn't bare going through this pain alone, so I decided to haunt all the couples that came here, and let them know how I feel…" And with a tug of her hand, Masako sent water all over Ayako and John.
"Dammit!" Ayako said.
"Was that really necessary?" John said, his face and tone saying everything.
"Ahahaha! Serves you right!" Masako laughed.
"Stop it!" I commanded. "Attacking random people just because you're mad at some jerk is just gonna make everyone mad at you. Is that what you want?"
"What's with you Mai?" Monk asked. "Why are you so worked up?"
"Well… I…" I said, thinking back to the Dollhouse Case… That woman had such a grudge towards her daughter's death that she killed innocent children… Became warped in her own desire for her child and revenge… "I just can't stand grudges. Life is too short."
Everyone seemed to pause for a minute at what I said… Even the possessed Masako, AKA a woman who already had her life pass her by.
"You know, she's right. If you keep this up you'll become what's known as a 'site-bound spirit'," Ayako said.
"Trust us, you'd be much happier crossing over now than trying to get even," Monk added in.
"If you'd like to do that, there's still time," John assured her.
"Are you all in some nerdy ghost club?" Masako said bluntly.
Let's see… A Catholic priest, a shrine maiden, a Buddhist monk, a psychic phenomenon scientist, a part-time worker, and her, who is possessing a psychic medium…
"Well not exactly," Ayako bent in front of the shorter Masako.
"So what do you think?" Naru cut in. "I would have to imagine that living in limbo like this gets old after a while."
Masako seemed to think for a moment. "… Maybe it is time that I moved on…"
"Wait," I interrupted. "Even though I don't believe in holding a grudge crossing over now wouldn't deal with the problem, you would only be sweeping it under the rug!" The others seemed a bit surprised at my statement, considering what I had said before. "Well, I mean it's not fair for the guy to get away with it, and I think you deserve some closure."
"You shouldn't worry, what goes around comes around," Monk said.
"Wow, you sound like a monk…" Ayako chimed.
"I am a monk!"*8
"He'll get his just desserts all right," John said bringing us back to the issue at hand.
"If she's content with letting it go we shouldn't pry," continued Ayako, deciding to leave poor Monk alone.
"It's all up to you," I told Masako. Well, the spirit inside her anyway.
Masako seemed to make a decision and was about to say something when she stopped and gasped. "It's him…" she pointed behind me. We turned to find a guy walking by. Her ex… "I wanna teach that dirt bag a lesson he'll never forget!" Masako said bitterly.
"But you've already tried that before and it never worked. How will this time be any different?" Ayako asked.
Then I had a stroke of genius. A ghost club, are we? Hehe… I chimed in, "I have an idea…"
We quickly got to work.
BLIND
Naru and I hid in the trees and watched the others follow through my plan as we had no other part to take in it other than watch.
Firstly, Monk passed by him silently before stopping a few feet behind him. "Excuse me," he stopped the cheating jerk without even turning around. "You recently did something extremely cruel to someone who cared about you very much." The guy turned to face Monk to only see the back of his head.
This was John's cue to come in. "I sense an evil aura surrounding him," John appeared in front of the guy, his head down and bangs covering his eyes.
"I can see it," Ayako came in next. "The spirit of a woman who was lead to suicide by you…"
"Who are you people?! I don't know what the hell you're talking about!" the guy shouted.
"You practically killed her," Monk said, turning to face the guy in question.
"It's said a woman's curse lasts a hundred generations," Ayako looked at him with an evil smirk.
"You should have her exorcised as soon as possible," John said. I swear, he's enjoying this…
"You people must have me mistaken for someone else. I-I mean, why would I need an exorcism?" the guy stuttered out.
Then out came Masako.
"Hey, you're-" the guy seemed to recognize her. "You're from TV."
Masako grinned sardonically.
Then she poured water on his head with a water bottle.
"Ah-wha-HEY!" the guy knocked the bottle away from his head. "Stop, what the hell?!"
Then, he seemed to realize…
Through a vision, or something, he saw… he saw his ex. "It's… it's you!"
"How does it feel to be on the other end of your torment?!" the woman's voice rang over Masako's as she spoke.
The guy kneeled and screamed. "Spare me, please! I didn't mean to hurt anyone I swear!"
And now he was hysteric.
"All right!" I cheered from the trees as Naru more-or-less ignored the whole thing. I looked at him and shoved his shoulder a little. "Admit it, you find this just as entertaining as the rest of us do."
Naru peeked open an eye before smirking and closing it again. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
Sure you don't…
Regardless, a few minutes later found us at a park bench. The guy had ran off after a while and we all started laughing. Well, Naru smirked a little, but that was about as close as he gets to laughing anyway, so I'm just going to count it anyway.
"Oh I feel so much better!" Masako said from where she sat on the park bench. "Now I can cross over without any regrets. Thank you so much…" Masako fell over on the bench, and a bright light came about, and a woman started to fly off in a golden light before disappearing and leaving me in inky blackness again.
And with that, the woman spirit was purified.
BLIND
"Mai, you were awesome today!" Monk said as we settled about in the SPR office.
"Aw," I giggled, a little embarrassed.
"And let's not forget the hilarious performance Masako put on," Ayako teased.
"What did I do?" Masako asked earnestly. We hadn't really told her what happened…
"You went up to Naru and started hugging and cuddling!" Monk exaggerated the motions.
"And then you topped it off with a big kiss!" Ayako chimed in.
Hey, now wait a moment…
"I kissed him? Seriously?" Masako said with a high amount of embarrassment and concern in her voice.
"Not just once but like a dozen times," Ayako was smirking. I decided it was high time to set the record straight…
"No she didn't! Why would you lie to her face like that?!" I said.
"Wait a minute, you guys are lying to me?" Masako asked.
"Well, you did hug him and paw him for a while," Ayako admitted.
"But I didn't kiss him, is that right?" Masako said.
I would never let you kiss him. Never in a million years. Just you wait Masako next time want him-
Wait, again, WHY DO I CARE?! Well, besides he'll probably be in a bad mood. Yeah, that's it…
The door of Naru's office opened to reveal, well, Naru. "You're all still here. Is there nothing better to do?" Naru chided the rest of us as I was technically supposed to be working…
"We just love being in your presence," Ayako said sarcastically. "And must we remind you why you finished your investigation early?"
"Although I do truly appreciate your help in the investigation I never would have imagined that you would have so much free time that you'd just start hanging out here after work," Naru replied.
"Did you say that I have no life?!" Needless to say, Monk and John were struggling to keep a pissed Ayako from pouncing on Naru.
"Naru, I'd like to get you some tea to thank you for all the help you've given me today," Masako said during the commotion. *9
Oh please, Naru would never fall for such an obvious come-on. I mean, do you know how many times clients come in and end up asking him on a date even after being shot down for their cases? I swear the same woman comes in every week or so and asks….
"That sounds nice," Naru replied. *10
"What? You're going?" I was shocked. He usually says something sarcastic as a 'no'…
"Of course he is," Masako said before latching herself on his arm. "This isn't the first time we've gone out together Mai. Just last week we saw a movie. Let's go Naru." She tugged his arm along as they started to leave.
Wait, was he… staring at me the whole time…?
And then they were out the door.
Naru you idiot! Why didn't you tell her to get lost like you always do?
"Ayako may be right," Monk said when the door closed. "I think she is blackmailing him!"
"I always just assumed they had a patron together," John said.
"PATRON?!" the rest of us shouted, and I can't be completely sure, but I don't think I was the only one blushing.
"Actually, it's quite common in the U.S. and Europe," John said. It is?! "Parapsychology isn't a recognized field of science yet so all research labs like Naru's needs some type of financial support. They'll often find private sponsors or even large corporations to help with funding."
We all sighed in relief. "Oh, so that's what you meant…" Ayako slumped in her seat.
"You had me worried there," I said in agreement.
"Why?" John asked, confused.
"Well in Japan the word 'patron' has another meaning, having to do with the subject of geishas," Monk answered with a rub of his head in his hand. *11
"Oh," realization dawned on John.
"Yeah, file that away for future reference. Though you may be right, if he has a sponsor, it could be Masako's dad," Monk said.
"He may feel obligated to date Masako," Ayako said. "Huh."
"For him to afford the rent on a place like this he must have a sponsor," Monk said.
"Is it that expensive here?" I asked.
"It's not just the rent, you have to factor in the cost of all this equipment," Ayako explained.
"Have you ever looked at the price tag of one of those high-speed cameras he owns?" Monk added in.
Did I never tell them how I came to be hired here?
"Ah, I don't wanna know!" I said, getting up and running over to the window.
I wonder what it's like to have a date with Naru? I've never really been one for dating…
"Hey Mai," Monk walked over. "You wanna go catch a movie with me?"
"Uh, I guess so?" I answered.
"Then we have a date!" Monk said, pinching my cheeks. "Later we'll grab some food, anything you want! Huh?"
Aw, Monk, that's so sweet! He's trying to cheer me up.
I smiled and gave him a hug. "I love you Monk! That sounds like a great time!" I laughed.
"You've got your own Lolita now," Ayako said from the sofa.
"It's better than having a date with my couch like someone I know," Monk grinned cheekily.
"Oh, aren't you cute? I actually do have a date," Ayako stood up from her seat.
"But I think Lin's working late tonight," I said confused.
"Oh it's not him," she said before grabbing John and pulling him over.
It took him a minute, but…. "She means me?!" he said slightly confused.
"If you don't wanna go, just say 'no'," Monk told John.
"He wants to go! Right, John?" Ayako said as more of a statement than an actual question…
And then we ended up on more of a group date than anything else.
"Don't worry John, I'll play nice," Ayako said as she pulled him along outside.
"Be careful John! She may try to stick you with the lip!" Monk teased.
What a crazy day! To any other customers coming in today, I will be out for the rest of the day. See Lin instead. Lin! You mind closing up for the night? *12
Knowing how his cold is going, Lin probably just sneezed at his desk again…
BLIND
… Mai's a bit oblivious huh? It was interesting, since in this she isn't aware of her feelings but in the anime and manga she IS and… well, it made this a tad bit of a challenge… but it was fun!
I considered doing an omake for this, but… come ON. Just LOOK at this episode/chapter. … None is needed.
So, I'm really REALLY REALLY sorry for the wait…. I was at a college campus for various reasons and in the dorm I was in… well, they didn't have internet access. So, not only could I not get notifications from my lovely reviewers, I also couldn't find the manga chapter, the episode, or update. (In case you are wondering, the Manga chapter thing for this is an extra at the end of the Doll House case and is not part of the original series as far as my knowledge goes-as always, if I am wrong, correct me.)
IMMA SORRY, OKAY?!
I wasn't inactive from writing though… I made a sort of… how-to thing for writing in general, but sculpted to Ghost Hunt and FanFiction…. It's not the best, but hey, I tried. Plus I didn't have much of an option. I dabbled in a few other writing things, but that was my main project between the work I had to do and the activities I had to participate in…
TRANSLATION NOTES! WEEEE!
*1 Okay, so I have no idea how to spell Michiru's boyfriend's name. I tried going to the subs to find out, however, they weren't all that useful. Like, at all. He didn't have a name in the sub version. So I guessed the spelling. Coming back to the sub version, since I had to go through that scene anyway, I used part of it instead of the dub in the beginning of the episode part of the chapter. I usually don't do that, but I just watched it before I watched the dubbed version and so I actually did it accidentally… I noticed later what had happened and kept it. So… yay?
*2 Okay, again with the using parts of the subbed version… In the dub, it's where they had their first kiss. In the sub, that's where they started dating. I chose dating. Why? Well, if you've ever seen shoujo… well, ANYTHING, usually a kiss of any kind is extremely sacred, especially a first kiss. Actually, that applies to all of Japan. I read something on this somewhere… it's just a cultural thing, I suppose. So I found it weird that she'd be so… whatever… about it. Henceforth, I changed it. Plus, that part was NOT in the manga. They probably did it to bring up time and the make the whole 'patron/Masako has dirt on Naru' thing come in a bit more smoothly…. Oh, and the next sentence in that was also edited via subs… I thought it silly to say the same thing for two sentences right next to each other.
*3 The manga says six months. The manga also didn't place this in December. The anime did. The anime was wrong. Simple math. Mai started working in April. Six months from April… is October… So… No. Wrong answer, false. And I fixed it. Happy?
*4 Yes, he does say that he reads maps to meditate… when someone can explain how in the living heck that can happen, please explain. Maps are anything but peaceful. I would know, I've had to read, write, and help others with maps. Bloody pains in the neck when in between their two seconds or so of usefulness…
*5 It's apparent that these will be in here a lot this chapter… so… sorry. I adjusted it accordingly from the time of the manga VS the anime, as in the anime it's in December and in the manga it's in October. The incident happened in April, I think, so I changed it… don't kill me for it!
*6 Okay, so I guessed about half the sentence that she said. Monk was talking over her, but I felt like putting it in… Oh well, I tried.
*7 There was something like this in the manga. Keiko did ask Mai to get her photo, Mai said that she'd probably end up with a ghost in the photo too, and Monk said that it would probably be the scariest photo ever…
*8 In the manga, they didn't really talk about revenge on the ex until after the purification. I read that and just HAD to put it in… but it didn't really work in the office… so I just went ahead and put it in during the conversation… I hope it didn't seem too weird to put it there?
*9 Anime says dinner, manga says tea… I liked tea better myself, so… I chose it. It seemed… lighter, and less serious, I guess. Or something. I doubt Masako could have gotten him to dinner after all that she had ALREADY forced him into that day…
*10 Again, with the manga and anime differences… I didn't change anything with this one, but what happened was Masako came in intending to ask him out, Naru came out to tell everyone to stuff a sock in it and leave, took one look at Masako and started to leave himself. Masako insisted on going with him even after he more or less told her to buzz off, and they ended up on a tea date thing. For your enjoyment, I told you.
*11 (this is from the notes in the back of the manga) In Japan, a patron is a person that financially supports someone in exchange for sex—similar to what some people call a 'sugar daddy'. (not from the notes) It's usually someone who is an older male who gives support to a younger female for sex in exchange of money. –I figured it would be easier to explain this than to explain geishas.
*12 This is mostly from what Mai said in the manga… Just so you know (mostly, I just wanted an even number…)
(OH YEAH, my friend told me I should join wattpad… any advice on that? I'm not sure if I'm going to…. So I'm asking for your opinion on that one.)
I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU FOLKS (other than the one above). WHAT PAIRINGS DO YOU WANT TO SEE?
Oh, and OC pairings are viable… though, I am NOT looking for OCs. I'm sure they are lovely… But if I need them, I'll think of something. Right now, none are needed. Like, at all. But you may have an opportunity on that one in the future… Possibly…
I originally intended Mai and Naru… But if you want to throw your two cents in, go on ahead!
Also, if you have anything you want to say about future chapters, again, I'm open for suggestions. I sorta know what I'm doing, but I'm writing for you guys, you know. So I want to try to make you happy.
AND YES. I WILL DO MY OWN CASES. JUST NOT FOR A LITTLE WHILE. CAPEESH? CAPEESH!
Trust me, you'll get plenty of my cracked-up original stuff… enjoy the stuff you're familiar with while it lasts…
A message from Mai…
Up next, Silent Christmas, Part One. I love the holidays!
See ya next time!